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Tag: BUHARI

  • APC hails Buhari for ending workers’ woes

    APC hails Buhari for ending workers’ woes

    •Party scolds PDP

    The President got some kudos yesterday from his All Progressives Congress (APC) party for coming to the aid of “the long-suffering workers” with a multi-billion-naira package that will ensure salaries are  paid and make it easier for the states to meet their monthly salary obligations.

    In a statement in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it was particularly delighted that the President had shown that he is truly the father of the nation by eschewing partisanship in approving the intervention fund for all the states, irrespective of which parties they belong to.

    ‘’We say this because when states were financially handicapped during the tenure of the last Federal Government, opposition states were hung out to dry why states belonging to the then ruling PDP got generous bailouts,’’ it said.

    APC said by his action, President Muhammadu Buhari has practicalised his deep understanding of the essence of governance which, more than anything else, is the about the wellbeing.

    The party said worthy of commendation is the fact that the special intervention fund approved by President Buhari was packaged without any external borrowing, despite the paucity of funds occasioned by the fall in the price of crude oil and the unprecedented profligacy of the immediate past administration that dried out the pot of national resources.

    It said so early in the life of his administration, Buhari is walking his talk by showing that with prudence, financial discipline, plugging financial leakages and a deep sense of patriotism, even the nation’s dwindling resources can still be more effectively utilised for the benefit of Nigerians, rather than be looted by thieving public officials who abuse their offices.

    APC described as “uncharitable” and a clear indication that shame has taken flight the situation in which those who created the rot that is now being cleared by President Buhari are the same ones daring to point accusing fingers at the government that inherited their rot.

    ‘’The PDP that spent the past 16 years plundering and pillaging Nigeria has boasted that the Nigerian people will soon come, cap in hand, to beg them to return to power. What delusion! What arrogance! Who presided over the looting and the mismanagement of public funds that made it impossible for the nation to absorb the shock of the falling oil prices? Who depleted the Excess Crude Account (ECA) without authorization? Who has degraded the standard of living of Nigerians?’’ the party queried.

    APC said the multi-pronged package approved by Buhari includes the sharing of about $2.1 billion sourced from the LNG’s payment to the Federation Account; and a CBN-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging between N250 billion to N300 billion, as a soft loan available to states to access for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries.

    Also, the President has approved a debt relief programme that will help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660 billion. The implication is that the life span of such loans will be extended, while reducing the states’ debt-servicing expenditures, thus leaving the states with enough resources – which otherwise would have been removed at source by the banks – to meet their monthly salary obligations, among others.

    ‘’History is repeating itself before our very eyes. Some 31 years ago, Buhari, then as a military head of state, also inherited a huge national rot similar to what has been bequeathed to it by the PDP, and had to approve N480 million for the payment of arrears of workers’ salaries. Truly, the President is a man of destiny,’’ the party said.

    It said that with thousands of workers made destitute by the frittering away of the commonwealth under a rapacious and wasteful PDP government now being given a new lease of life, their purchasing power being boosted and the nation’s economy being reflated, the change which the President and his party promised the nation has just begun.

    ‘’We thank Nigerians for voting the APC into power at the centre and for believing in us even when the horizon became hazy, not out of our making but because of the misdeeds of the past. By their relentless support for President Buhari and the APC, Nigerians have indeed  demonstrated that what is worth fighting for is worth defending,’’ APC said

     

  • Akure bishop advises Buhari

    The Bishop of Akure Diocese (Anglican Communion), Dr Simeon Borokini, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint professionals into the board of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to ensure proper management of the nation’s oil sector.

    Also, the Cleric urged  Buhari to set up a probe panel to investigate the activities of the dissolved board of the NNPC.

    This, according to him, would justify the dissolution of the board.

    Declaring open the third session of the 11th synod of the Akure Diocese, Rev Borokini lamented that corruption has eaten deep into the fabrics of all sectors of the nation’s economy.

    He urged the Federal Government to take a decisive stand on fuel subsidy to prevent corrupt practices in the oil sector.

    His word: “This government should take a definite decision on the issue of fuel subsidy now to save Nigerians from the agonies experienced always due to fuel scarcity.

    “Government should not only make a pronouncement on subsidy removal but also put in place appropriate machinery to prevent further corrupt practices currently prevalent in the oil industry where tax payer’s monies are embezzled or paid for services not rendered.

    “The government should ensure the effective management of the NNPC  and review the composition of the Board of Directors of the corporation.  The board should be headed by professionals and not politicians. The present wastage needs to be checked so as to improve accountability and optimise the economy.”

    Bishop Borokini also enjoined the Buhari- led government not to have any sacred cow in the fight against corruption, stressing that his anti-corruption war should affect all sectors of the economy.

    He recalled that the last general elections threatened the peace and unity of the country, and thereby enjoined Buhari and all the 36 governors in the country to uphold democracy and ensure that the nation is not divided by politics, tribe or religion.

    He said: “God saved Nigeria from evident chaos and collapse that would have resulted from the tensed atmosphere before, during and immediately after the 2015 elections.

    “The peace of the country was highly threatened with insecurity of life and property, Boko Haram and bombings in the North East and kidnapping in the South East, now fast spreading to the South West.

    “Communal clashes, religious and political intolerance were on the increase, with corruption, apathy and lawlessness having a field all over the country.”

    While calling on Nigerian leaders to trust in God, Bishop Borokini also enjoined Nigerians to support the rulers in all things which are just and morally good.

    He stressed that “we should pursue all things that promote peace and unity among each other at the national, state, local and community levels.”

    The Anglican Bishop challenged the three tiers of government to take more proactive steps to secure the lives of Nigerians in all parts of the country and safeguard their fundamental human and constitutional rights to freedom of religion.

    He said each state of the federation should be allowed to have a say in the management of the natural resources available in its area, while the Federal Government acts just as the umpire.

  • Buhari wades into farmers, fulani clashes

    Buhari wades into farmers, fulani clashes

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday directed ‎the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to fine-tune strategies towards ending farmers / herdsmen clashes in the country.

    The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Sunny Echono, spoke with State House correspondents after updating the President on the activities of the Ministry at the Presidential Villa, Abuja

    According to him, the blueprint formulated during Buhari’s tenure as Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) will be considered towards resolving the frequent clashes.

    The blueprint, according to him, involves the creation of grazing reserves and stock routes.

    He said: “Incidentally the President had received a detailed report on this when he was at the PTF on how to resolve this problem and this blue print is going to be made available to us, together with experts and others who have also worked on the subject including the recent national economic committee resolution chaired by one of the state governors.

    “We are going to look at all of this and come up with proposals that will address this problem. We are looking at the possibility of delegating stock routes with monuments and establishing of grazing reserves. We are also looking at the issues of ranches across the country and addressing the reality of the farmers’ challenges in terms of the cost of pastures.

    “If we localize all our pastures, you need to provide pasture and the ranges vary depending on the region you find yourself. These peculiar problems are the things that will come up in the blue print.”

    He said that the President also asked the Ministry to work towards restoring the agriculture extension services scheme and to create employment for the youth through agriculture.

     

     

  • Buhari approves N713.7b for states to pay workers

    Buhari approves N713.7b for states to pay workers

    Bank loans to be rescheduled

    Deduction of allocations stops

    CASH-STRAPPED states got a breather yesterday. President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of N713.7billion  intervention funds for them to pay workers’ salaries.

    The bailout is part of a three-pronged relief package that will end the workers’ plight.

    In the package are N413.7billion   special intervention funds and the balance of about N250billion to N300billion, which is a soft loan to states.

    Also, N413.7b( $2.1b) is sourced from the recent LNG proceeds and the remaining N300b is a Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund.

    The Debt Management Office(DMO) is expected to assist states to restructure over N660billion commercial loans.

    With the development, President Buhari has stopped deductions from monthly allocations to states at source.

    Instead, the Federal Government will “use its influence to guarantee the elongation of the loans for the benefit of the states”.

    The beneficiaries of the relief package include workers in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) who have remained unpaid for many months.

    According to sources, the President took the decision to boost the purchasing power of Nigerians, especially average and low-income earners, and to reflate the economy.

    The  sources said: “In his resolve to put an end to the lingering crisis of unpaid workers’ salaries in the country especially in many states, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a comprehensive relief package designed to save the situation.

    “Specifically,the President has okayed a three-pronged relief package that will end the workers’ plight.

    These are:

    •The sharing of about $2.1b (N413.7bn) in fresh allocation between the states and the Federal Government. The money is sourced from recent LNG proceeds to the federation account, and its release okayed by the President;

    •A Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging from between N250b to N300b. This would be a soft loan available to states to access for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries; and

    •A debt relief programme proposed by the Debt Management Office (DMO), which will help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660B, and extend the life span of such loans while reducing their debt-servicing expenditures.

    The sources said the bailout will take immediate effect from this week to ensure stability in all the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The sources said: “While the over $2b, which is sourced from LNG proceeds to the federation account would be shared among the states, using the revenue allocation formula, the CBN will also make available the special intervention fund to states and then negotiate the terms with individual states.

    “The packages that have now been approved by President Buhari is expected to go into effect this week as the President is said to have directed that release of the funds should be made as soon as possible to assuage the plight of thousands of Nigerian workers in the federal and state governments.”

    The sources said with the rescheduling of states’s debts, their allocations will no longer be deducted at  source by commercial banks.

    The sources added: “This third option, by extending the commercial loans of the states, would therefore make available more funds to the state governments which otherwise would have been removed at source by the banks.

    “The Federal Government will use its influence to guarantee the elongation of the loans for the benefit of the states.”

    Government sources explained at the weekend that this package, which was considered at the National Economic Council( NEC )last week,  had been designed specifically for workers.

    “Furthermore, President Buhari has now reviewed and approved the package in his bid to intervene and alleviate the suffering of workers some of whom have not been paid for over ten months,” the sources said.

    The bailout will be extended to workers in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

    “There are also workers in the Federal Government’s employ whose salaries have been unpaid for months. This package is expected to address those cases also,” one of the sources added.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, confirmed that indeed a special package was on the way for workers.

    He added that the president is deeply concerned about the plight of the workers who have been unpaid for many months.

    During the inauguration of  NEC last week, President Buhari asked the Council, which is a constitutional advisory body to him, to, as a matter of priority consider how to “liquidate the unpaid salaries of workers across the country, a situation he observed has brought untold hardship to the workers.”

    “At the NEC meeting, the relief measures were extensively discussed between the state governors and top officials of the Federal Government, including the CBN Governor, and the permanent secretaries from Ministries of Finance and Petroleum Resources. Other agencies that were actively involved in the process include the DMO and officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.”

    Media reports last month indicated that about 12 of the 36 states of the federation owed their workers about N110b

    They are: Rivers, Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, Benue and Bauchi states.

    However, informed sources said the Finance Ministry and the CBN may have pegged the amount needed to settle all the outstanding public workers salaries at about N250billion.

    It was, however, gathered that President Buhari advised governors at the NEC session to be prudent in managing state resources.

    A governor said: “The President has done his best to assist us to take off properly. The ball is in our court to abide by his counsel to be prudent.

    “Some of the measures we are looking at include appreciable reduction of security votes, stoppage of chartered flights and pegging the high cost of maintaining Government House to a low benchmark.

    “With our experience in the last one month, we do not need a soothsayer to teach us to cut our coat according to our size.”

     

  • Residents urge Buhari to restore checkpoints

    Just weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the removal of military checkpoints from roads across the country, some Abuja resident especially those living in satellite towns have asked that the roadblocks be restored.

    Barely two days to last Christmas residents discovered that military security checkpoints had been mounted at various strategic inter-changes and junctions within perimeter of the nation’s capital in addition to some existing checkpoints at various entry points to the city.

    According to findings, the development was due to the prevalence insecurity caused by the Boko Haram sects.

    Throughout the Yuletide and even before the removal of the checkpoints, soldiers mounted roadblocks mounted by soldiers forced motorists to drive at slow speed, while suspicions vehicles were pulled over for checks.

    Pedestrians, especially those carrying bags, were also subjected to extensive scrutiny.

    A cross section of residents, who spoke with Abuja Review in separate interviews, said there are doubts over the rationale to relax security checks, which culminated in the sudden disappearance of the military check points from the city centre.

    The residents argued there is still need for them to continue checking,  because of the increasing mass movement of people (old and new settlers) into the city, giving that the greater percentage of the residents are yet to return from the yuletide break.,

    A resident, Emmanuel Ona who expressed worry over the development, noted that there were still more security threats in the air, as people are still moving into the city with a lot of bags and other things, which may be used to smuggle dangerous weapons into the city.

    He said he was shocked and sad when he discovered that the military check points in Kuje and other parts of the city were nowhere to be found.

    “I was very sad when I discovered that there were no longer military check points that were mounted before Berger and Apo Roundabouts, along the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway and Kuje.

    “Because the emergence of the check points gave me and other residents a great sense of security in the city, especially while plying the route on a daily basis. And, most of us had wished that the military checkpoints stay.

    “I am appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to bring back the military check points, to help beef up security within the city centre, given the prevailing security challenges in the land.”

    Another resident, Peace Omole said although, the check points mounted within the city centre and other parts had brought a lot of hardships on commuters, but the current peace we are enjoying is better.

    According to him, the people are ready to pay any kind of sacrifices that would help lessen the current security threats they are faced with, while pursuing their daily bread.

    Omole: “It is better to have these military checks on our streets, if it would allay our fears over the rising insecurity in the country, that’s was why am still to come to terms on the reasons for their sudden removal by the government.”

     

  • NCS urges Buhari on CPN Act implementation

    •Laments exclusion from INEC, others

    The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) Act (4a) in the appointment of IT experts into various boards and parastatals. Besides all boards of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), especially those that depend on IT to  fulfill their mandates, must have at least one IT expert as executive member, the society said.

    The group also lamented the exclusion of its members form government agencies, such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), adding that it was not good enough for professionalism.

    Its President, Prof David Adewumi, who spoke in Lagos ahead of the group’s 12th International Conference scheduled for Akure, the Ondo State capital, lamented that successive administrations shuned  the CPN Act  in the appointment of key officials into ICT- related fields, project design and implementation.

    He wondered why, for instance, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has members who are commissioners in INEC while the NCS has none. He argued that the appointment of NCS member into INEC should not be anything less than that of a commissioner.

    He said NCS believes that in addition to the Cybercrime Act, legislation should be enacted to foster the development of IT and IT-enabled activities and growth of the industry and the profession.

    Adewumi said:  ”The usage of IT in governance and security needs to be improved through more widespread adoption of IT professionalism in the private and public sectors. NCS and its members can play a major role in improving the state of security nationwide, combating terrorism, enhancing public service delivery and accountability and boosting job creation.

    “There should be preferential usage of Nigerian professionals in major and strategic national IT projects and initiatives instead of always importing people, products and solutions and creating jobs in other countries.”

    According to him, local engineers have the expertise to do the job as has been demonstrated over the years, as jobs contracted to the so-called expatriate experts are usually contracted to indigenous engineers who have often acquainted themselves well by doing the job.

    Speaking on the NCS 12th International Conference 2015 which has Information Technology for inclusive development as its theme, Prof. Adewumi said it will provide policy makers, public and private sector, IT practitioners and the academia opportunity to keep up-to-date with technology trends in the global space.

    He said participants will also discover opportunities for the private sector in the process of inclusive development and avenues for public-private partnerships towards realizing the IT objectives within the context of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

    The conference, according him, “will provide opportunities for the delegates to exchange new ideas, establish business or research relations, and find global partners for future collaborations”.

  • Buhari and renewed Boko Haram offensive

    SIR: Aside his renowned firm anti-corruption posture, the military background of President Muhammadu Buhari, was perhaps, partly responsible for his wining the March 28, presidential election. Apart from the slide in the fortune of the nation’s economy due to the dwindling global price of oil, national insecurity, especially the one occasioned by the dastardly activities of the Boko Haram sect in the northern part of the country, has become a major source of threat to the corporate existence of our dear nation. Hence, most Nigerians, either rightly or wrongly, were convinced that with a tested army general of President Muhammadu Buhari calibre at the helms of national affairs, Boko Haram insurgency in the country would soon be comprehensively routed.

    The way things have recently turned out have, however, dashed this hope, at least for now. Rather than diminish, the devilish activities of the group have gained unbelievable momentum in the past few weeks. A few hours after President Muhammadu had referred to the group “godless” and “mindless”, during his inauguration as Nigeria’s new president, the sect struck with nauseating audacity, characteristically leaving in its trail sorrow, tears and blood. In the past few days the sect has launched a renewed attack on Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, perhaps to defiantly rubbish President Buhari’s directive that the military high command be relocated to Maiduguri.

    The recent renewed offensive of the Boko Haram is instructive in many ways. One, it goes to confirm that the group is in no way a religious group and as such could, by no means, be championing , as it has been erroneously proclaiming,  the promotion of Islam. The fact that the sect has particularly chosen the revered month of Ramadan, when the Muslim faithful seeks to maintain peace with all men and their God, to launch criminal attacks on renowned Muslim locations is a pointer to the reality that the group is , indeed, a ‘godless’ and ‘mindless’ sect. No sane group, purporting to promote religious cause, should take recourse to bloodletting when it is common knowledge that God abhors such tendencies.

    Also, the fresh Boko Haram renewed offensive readily rubbishes earlier ploy in some quarters to give the group a political colouration. In the thick of its dastardly attacks in the country, especially during the time of former President Goodluck Jonathan, attempts were made to politicize the activities of the group.

    The truth of the matter is that the Boko Haram sect is a terrorist group. In the first half of 2014, Boko Haram killed more than 2000 innocent and hapless civilians, in about 95 attacks. In the last three years, more than 3000, people have lost their lives as a result of Boko Haram operations. A recent research claimed that Boko Haram attacks have left at least 12,000 people dead and 8,000 crippled in the last three years while hundreds of thousands have fled their homes for the fear of the insurgents.

    Therefore, we need to stand up together and act decisively against terror. Those who are waging war against our nation have demonstrated that they care less about mundane dividing factors such as ethnicity, religion and politics. Religion, ethnic and political affiliations means nothing to these agents of death.

    Consequently, the various security agencies in the country need to be encouraged to do more than they are presently doing in the management of the country’s security situation. In as much as it is true that terrorism is becoming a global challenge, our security bodies need to exhibit more decisiveness and professionalism in their handling of  prevailing security condition in the country. One primary duty of government, all over the world, is the protection of the citizenry. The present trend that exposes Nigerians to unhindered horrid attacks and premature deaths is, to say the least, intolerable.

     

    • Tayo Ogunbiyi

    Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.       

     

  • Buhari urged to withhold assent to TETFund Amendment Bill

    Buhari urged to withhold assent to TETFund Amendment Bill

    The Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to withhold assent to the amendment of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act passed by the Seventh National Assembly.

    The group argued that Buhari’s assent amendment of the act was counter-productive and would drag the government into an unwanted industrial crisis.

    “We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari not to assent to this bill for the simple reason that it is not only counter-productive but will drag this government into unwanted industrial crises.”

    Speaking at a news briefing in Abuja, ISDMG Executive Director, Dr. Chima Amadi, claimed that the group’s position was in view of fact that the bill will be a set back for higher education development in Nigeria.

    Amadi noted that assenting to the bill might impose a greater financial burden and exposure to the TETFund much worse than the ETF regime.

    He said: “The most bewildering aspect of the amendment is the explanatory memorandum. Once allowed to stand, it will take us back to the old Education Trust Fund (ETF) era which was restructured owing to the limitation brought on her activities as a result of interventions in too many institutions. This law will bring about the proliferation of institution, which will negate the change from ETF to TETFund.”

    He said that the fact that the bill was rejected in 2012 by stakeholders and unions was a pointer to its unacceptability by the unions and civil society organisations.

    Amadi said “The big question is, how come an amendment that was rejected and thrown out find its way into the National Assembly for it to even be passed? Does it mean that the aspiration of Nigerians as reflected in the public hearing does not matter? If it does matter, why waste taxpayer’s money in organizing a public hearing only to do what you thought was right?”

    The group also faulted the amendment of the bill to redefine tertiary education to include universities, polytechnics, collages of education and the Nigeria Law School.

    He went further: “Have we paused to reflect on the wider implication of allowing this amendment to stand especially in the face of several other institutes that regulate the license of professional? This may just be the opening of the floodgate since they are established by law.”

    His word: “the right of the National Assembly to make laws for the nation is not under contention here; it is their responsibility enshrined in our laws to make laws for the country, we are only looking at the implications of some of this laws and the processes we went through in the passage of the law before we got to where we are.”

    A member of the group, Mr. Olajuwon Babatunde, also urged the president to shun the bill. Babatunde said the amendment was aimed at weakening TETFund, which had revamped the tertiary institutions in the country.

    “I appeal to the president to shun the amendment of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act which was passed by the 7th Assembly. TETFund is one of the most effective institutions we have in this country which has totally transformed tertiary education and taken it to another level. This bill is bent on reducing the impact that it has. We will no longer feel the benefits of this institution. We should focus on critical issues that will boost our educational system in Nigeria and not seek to weaken TETFund,’’ Babatunde said.

    The Tertiary Education Trust Fund Bill was among the 46 bills passed by the 7th Senate in a last minute flurry of activities recently.

    The bill sought to change the board’s structure to include a representative of the Nigerian Law School; Redefine tertiary education to include the Nigerian Law School; and define university to include the Nigerian Law School and any institution established by law which runs full time programme which leads to formal qualification prescribed by law.

  • ‘No grudge against Buhari’

    The Southwest All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday reiterated its support for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The party refuted reports that the zonal chapter had a grouse with the Federal Government over perceived injustice arising from the distribution of appointed offices by the President.

    It said the report was malicious, spurious and in bad faith.

    Southwest APC Secretary Ayo Afolabi said in a statement in Ibadan, Oyo State, that the chapter did not direct its six chairmen not to recognise Bukola Saraki as the Senate President and Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, until the National Assembly crisis is resolved.

    He said the six chapters will always support the push for party supremacy and discipline by the party leadership.

    Afolabi added: “There was never a meeting where our  chairmen- Henry Ajomale (Lagos), Gboyega Famodun (Osun), Roqeeb Adeniji (Ogun), Jide Awe (Ekiti), Akin Oke (Oyo) and Isaac Kekemeke (Ondo)- resolved not to recognise Saraki as the Senate President and Dogara as Speaker.

    “But, our chairmen and indeed, members in our zone, believe in party supremacy and party discipline. It is in the interest of the party.”

    The zonal secretary said the Southwest APC is deeply concerned about the escalation of the National Assembly crisis, urging the leaders to resolve the issues amicably.

    He also said the region will always put its house in order as it forges ahead in the unfinished business of liberating the zone from marauders.

    Afolabi stressed: “We, members of the APC in the Southwest, face the future with hope. We are conscious of the history of the progressive movement and the realisation that the region is the bedrock of the onslaught against the conservative government at the centre. “

     

  • Workers’ salaries: Buhari bails out states with N713.7b

    Workers’ salaries: Buhari bails out states with N713.7b

    Worried by accumulated salaries nationwide, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday approved the release of N713.7billion intervention funds for states.

    The bail-out was part of a three-pronged relief package that will end the workers plight.

    While N413.7billion represents special intervention funds, the balance of about N250billion to N300billion is a soft loan to states.

    Also, N413.7billion ($2.1billion) is sourced from the recent Liquefied Natural Gas proceeds and the remaining N300billion is a Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund.

    The Debt Management Office (DMO) is expected to assist states to restructure over N660billion commercial loans crippling their economy.

    With the development, President Buhari has stopped deduction of monthly allocations to states at source.

    Instead, the Federal Government will “use its influence to guarantee the elongation of the loans for the benefit of the states.”

    But the beneficiaries of the relief package include workers in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) who have remained unpaid for several months.

    According to informed sources, the President took the decision to boost purchasing power of Nigerians, especially average and low-income earners, and to reflate the economy.

    The sources said: “In his resolve to put an end to the lingering crisis of unpaid workers’ salaries in the country especially in several states of the federation, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a comprehensive relief package designed to save the situation.

    “Specifically, the President has okayed a three-pronged relief package that will end the workers plight.

    These are:  The sharing of about $2.1billion (N413.7billion) in fresh allocation between the states and the federal government. The money is sourced from recent LNG proceeds to the federation account, and its release okayed by the President.

    * A Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging from between N250bIllion to N300billion. This would be a soft loan available to states to access for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries.

    *A debt relief program proposed by the Debt Management Office, DMO, which will help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660billion, and extend the life span of such loans while reducing their debt-servicing expenditures.

    When contacted the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, confirmed that indeed a special package was on the way for the workers.

    He added that the President is deeply concerned about the plight of the workers who have been unpaid for many months.

    During the inauguration of NEC  last week, President Buhari asked the Council, which is a constitutional advisory body to him, to, as a matter of priority consider how to “liquidate the unpaid salaries of workers across the country, a situation he observed has brought untold hardship to the workers.”

    “At the NEC meeting, the relief measures were extensively discussed between the state governors and top officials of the federal government including the CBN governor, and the Permanent Secretaries from Ministries of Finance and Petroleum Resources. Other agencies that were actively involved in the process include the DMO and officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.”

    Media reports last month indicated that about 12 of the 36 states of the federation owed their workers about N110b

    They are Osun, Rivers, Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, Plateau, Benue, and Bauchi States.

    However, informed sources said the Finance Ministry and the CBN may have pegged the amount needed to settle all the outstanding public workers salaries at about N250b.